English Chess Forum

Does anyone have any information about Robert Ernest Robinson, whose book 1.P-KB4: A Guide to Bird's Opening was published by CHESS in 1950?

The Nobel Prize winning chemist Sir Robert Robinson (1886-1975) was a strong chess player and the co-author with Raymond Edwards of The Art and Science of Chess (Batsford 1972) but no middle initial or name is given on his birth and death records.

From

Western Morning News - Saturday 02 September 1950

'I have taken this game of the late world champion from "1. P-KB4," collection which has just been published by R. E. Robinson. Mr. Robinson, who spent many years collecting Bird's Opening games, was attending Plymouth Corporation Grammar School over 50 years ago, when his father was on the editorial staff of " The Western Morning News." '

So not the same man.

ps Check out the South West Electricity Board.

He lived at 21 Neville Road, Ealing at least until 1965: until 1960 he was with his wife, Ada Mary.

His death was recorded in Hounslow in Q3 1972, with his date of birth given as 19 Dec 1884. Census records show that he was born in Sunderland before moving to Plymouth, and later to London.

In addition to Richard's question, does anyone have the book itself? I once had a book on Bird's long since out of print. I haven't read it in thirty years as a friend conveniently forgot to return it before leaving the area. I believe the cover was a faded gold colour, and many of the initial games were from the late Victorian era. The following game most certainly was. http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1026352. I never could remember the author's name but it sounds like this would be it as there weren't too many books written on Bird's Opening I imagine.

MJMcCready wrote:I I believe the cover was a faded gold colour, and many of the initial games were from the late Victorian era.

A Google search shows one sold through ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-P-KB4-a-guide ... 7675.l2557

The shot of one of the pages has very much the look and feel of a BH Wood production and does indeed show games from the eighteen hundreds.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-P-KB4-a-guide ... 7675.l2557

Books exclusively devoted to one opening were relatively infrequent prior to Batsfords from 1969 onwards commissioning books on almost all popular openings. This book looks more of a collection of all known games in the Bird's rather than an opening manual on how to play it.

That looks like it, thanks.